FERC-725, Final Rule in Docket No. RM22-12-000, Certification of Electric Reliability Organization; Procedures for Electric Reliability Standards

FERC-725 (nonsubstantive change) This nonsubstantive change request is to incorporate the reporting requirements for the FERC-725(1A) information collection (OMB Control No. 1902-0225) into the FERC-725 information collection (OMB Control No. 1902-0225). The reporting requirements approved under FERC-725(1A) were due to the issuance of an order in Docket No. RD17-4-000 (on 4/17/2017). In that order, the Commission directed NERC to develop a new or modified Reliability Standard for supply chain risk management for industrial control system hardware, software, and computing/networking services associated with bulk electric system operations. Industry burden to develop any new Reliability Standard would normally be contained in the FERC-725 information collection. However, at the time the Order was submitted to OMB for review, the FERC-725 information collection was already under review for an unrelated activity. Commission staff used the FERC-725(1A) as a temporary placeholder collection number under which the required reporting requirements could be submitted to and reviewed by OMB. OMB approved the FERC-725(1A) information collection on 9/22/2016 with the burden estimate of 1 additional response and 1 hour per response annually. (One response and one hour were placeholders.) FERC staff is now administratively moving the reporting requirements of FERC-725(1A) to FERC-725 with no additional ongoing burden (because FERC-725 already accounts for all Reliability Standard development). FERC-725 (General Information) The FERC-725 contains the following information collection elements: -Self Assessment and ERO (Electric Reliability Organization) Application: The Commission requires the ERO to submit to FERC a performance assessment report every five years. The next assessment is due in 2019. Each Regional Entity submits a performance assessment report to the ERO. Submitting an application to become an ERO is also part of this collection. -Reliability Assessments: 18 CFR 39.11 requires the ERO to assess the reliability and adequacy of the Bulk-Power System in North America. Subsequently, the ERO must report to the Commission on its findings. Regional entities perform similar assessments within individual regions. Currently the ERO submits to FERC three assessments each year: long term, winter, and summer. In addition, NERC also submits various other assessments as needed. -Reliability Standards Development: Under Section 215 of the FPA, the ERO is charged with developing Reliability Standards. Regional Entities may also develop regional specific standards. Reliability Standards are one of the three principal mechanisms provided to FERC to ensure reliability on the Bulk-Power System. -Reliability Compliance: Reliability Standards are mandatory and enforceable upon approval by FERC. In addition to the specific information collection requirements contained in each standard (cleared under other information collections), there are general compliance, monitoring and enforcement information collection requirements imposed on applicable entities. Audits, spot checks, self-certifications, exception data submittals, violation reporting, and mitigation plan confirmation are included in this area. -Stakeholder Survey: The ERO uses a stakeholder survey to solicit feedback from registered entities in preparation for its three year and five year self-performance assessment. The Commission assumes that the ERO will perform another survey prior to the 2019 self- assessment. -Other Reporting: This category refers to all other reporting requirements imposed on the ERO or regional entities in order to comply with the Commission’s regulations. For example, FERC may require NERC to submit a special reliability assessment. This category captures these types of one-time filings required of NERC or the Regional Entities. The Commission implements its responsibilities through 18 CFR Part 39.

The latest form for FERC-725, Final Rule in Docket No. RM22-12-000, Certification of Electric Reliability Organization; Procedures for Electric Reliability Standards expires 2022-02-28 and can be found here.

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Federal Enterprise Architecture: Energy - Energy Resource Management